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3 Strategic Deterrence: Past, Current, and Future
Pages 9-14

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From page 9...
... allies are convinced that the United States will use force against Iran over its nuclear weapons program, and he indicated that Iran's use of a nuclear weapon might be nondeterrable should it succeed in developing one. Even if Iran does not use a nuclear weapon, a nuclear-armed Iran could become emboldened.
From page 10...
... The importance of being able to retaliate with nuclear weapons if attacked with nuclear weapons. Bernard Brodie emphasized this in his classic studies at the start of the nuclear age, as did senior Air Force leaders in the 1946 study (since unclassified)
From page 11...
... BOX 3-2 Extended Deterrence Dr. Elbridge Colby, Research Analyst Effective extended deterrence derives from a potential adversary's perception that the state extending deterrence has both the capability and the resolve to use force -- possibly and perhaps necessarily including nuclear weapons -- in a manner sufficiently detrimental to the potential aggressor's interests to outweigh any benefits such aggression would entail.
From page 12...
... A participant indicated that Iran is concerned that the United States wants regime change (look at what happened in Libya) , and the United States tacitly accepts Pakistan and North Korean nuclear weapons, so why not a nuclear Iran eventually?
From page 13...
... C Paul Robinson, president emeritus, Sandia National Laboratories, provided capstone remarks at the first workshop session titled "Future Strategic Deterrence and National Security Challenges for the United States." An abstract of Dr.
From page 14...
... Further, the central Cold War nuclear deterrence task will remain relevant so long as there is the capability to destroy the United States as we know it in the hands of a government that is yet to become a reliable trustworthy friend. The most basic principle of deterrence is the need to instill in the minds of potential adversaries that the potential cost and risk of an action inimical to our interests or those of our allies far exceeds the potential gain.


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